The Low to NE of us finally began to drift N & W enabling us to resume best course towards Azores. Bit of a poohey overnight is an understatement. During late afternoon and well before dusk, as winds had continued to back (as forecast) it was time to change sails from reefed genoa & mainsl to reefed poled-out genoa. This took a little time. Seas were big and nasty (as they have been for past couple of days or so) so decided to go on donk for short time whilst running with the 4m swell - for safety on deck. This went well and we ended up sailing along at 5 - 6kn poled-3 reef genoa. I increased speed by going to 2 reefs onmy 12-3 watch and reduced to 3 reefs at 0300. These BIG seas are all from N - result of the earlier storm conditions we've been managing to keep away from! Seas should reduce during the day (we wish). Unfortunately the swell is almost on our port beam, and has been for ages and makes like very uncomfortable/almost impossible to get good shut-eye! Will have to catch-up
making ZZZ's some time soon? Slow but steady progress overnight and this morning. Unable to expose more genoa because swell causes sail ro back fiercely, which is avoidable with 3rd reef set. The rolling was so bad yesterday evening we had crackers and cheeze for evening meal and even this visited the galley work-surface several times whilst work in progress!